CyanShade of blue; One of four basic ink colors used in 4 color printing process.

D

DebossTo press an image below the surface of paper.

DensitometerAn instrument used to measure the density of colored ink to determine consistency.

DensityThe degree of darkness of an image.

DiazoA light-sensitive coating used on plates in offset printing.

DieMetal plate cut for impressing a design or image on paper.

Die cuttingA process of cutting paper in a shape or design using metal dies.

Direct ImagingA technology that eliminates the use of film plates by directly transferring the image from digital files to the press plates using a laser.

Direct Imaging Press (DI)An offset press where the plate is imaged directly on the press with laser.

DotThe individual element of a halftones; also referred to as a “pixel”.

Dot gain or spreadThe spread of ink on paper; occurrence when dots print larger than they were on the film.

Dots Per Inch (DPI)A measurement of resolution of a screen image or printed image defined by the number of dots that fit horizontally and vertically into one inch; The higher the DPI, the sharper the image.

Double burnExposing a printing plate to multiple images.

Draw-downA method of applying a thin coating or ink on paper to roughly determine color.

Drop-outParts of artwork that are not reproduced.

DummyA preliminary layout of a copy showing the position and general style made to resemble the finished product.

DuotoneA halftone image made up of two colors.

DuplexingThe ability of a press to print on both sides of a sheet of paper.

E

Encapsulated Postscript File (EPS)An Adobe graphic file format for high resolution images; it translates graphic and text into code that tells a printer to print in the highest resolution possible and also has low resolution view files for quick screen viewing.

EmbossTechnique of pressing an image into paper so that creating a raised image.

EmulsionPhotosensitive sensitive coating on printing plates and film.

F

FeederSection of a printing press that separates the sheets and feeds them into position for printing.

FloodTo cover a page completely with ink or varnish.

FlopThe backside of an image.

FoilA thin metal applied to paper used in foil stamping and foil embossing.

Foil embossTo foil stamp or emboss an image on paper using a die.

Foil stampingPressing a design or image on paper without ink using a foil and heated metal die.

Four color processThe process of printing using the combination of four basic color inks (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) to produce a range of colors and create a color image.

Four over Four (4/4)A print job with four color printing on both sides of the paper.

Four over One (4/1)A print job with four color printing on the front side and one color (usually black) on the back side.

Four over Zero (4/0)A print job with four color printing on the front side and no printing on the back side.

G

GangEconomical way of printing by printing multiple images on the same sheet using the maximum sheet size.

GhostingA printing defect where a faint unwanted image appears on a page.

GlossShiny coating applied to paper.

GrainThe direction in which the fibers of a paper lie.

Graphic DesignThe use of visual elements to express a message.

GrayscaleAn image made up of a range of shades of black and white.

GrippersThe metal fingers on printing presses that hold the paper and controls it as it passes through the press.

H

HalftonePattern of dots within a fixed grid to reproduce a continuous-tone image.

Hard copyA document or data printed on paper.

HickeyA spot or imperfection on a printed page caused by dust, lint or dried ink.

HighlightThe lightest part in an image.

House SheetPaper kept in stock by a printer.

I

Image areaPortion of a page or paper that can be printed on.

ImpositionArranging printed pages correctly so they will fold in the proper sequence.

ImpressionThe pressure of a printing press on paper; image caused by pressure of a press plate on paper.

IndiciaPostal information preprinted on a mailing envelope or a piece in place of a stamp.

Ink fountainThe container on a printing press that hold the ink.

K

KeylineAn outline drawing to show the exact size and position of an artwork.

L

Laid finishA pattern of parallel lines running across the grain, creating a ribbed and handmade effect.

Line copyHigh contrast copy made up of solids or lines which do not require a halftone screen; also called line art or line work.

Lines per inch (LPI)The number of lines of dots per inch in a halftone screen; the higher the LPI., the sharper the image.

LithographyA method of printing where plates are chemically treated so that the image area accepts ink and non-image areas repel ink.

M

MagentaAlso known as process red; one of the 4 basic ink colors in process color printing; M in abbreviation CMYK.

MaskBlocking light from reaching parts of a printing plate, also called knockout.

MatteDull non-glossy finish.

MicrometerDevise used to measure the thickness (caliper) of paper.

Middle tonesThe tones in a photograph between highlights and shadows; must be balanced for accurate reproduction.

MoireAn undesirable screen pattern caused by incorrect screen angles.

N

NegativeA film in which the white areas of the original image appear black and the black areas appear white.

O

Offset Lithography or Offset PrintingA common printing process in which the image to be printed is transferred from a metal plate to a rubber blanket onto paper.

OffsettingTransfer of ink or impression from one page to the opposite page.

OpacityThe property of paper that minimizes the show-through on a printed sheet.

Outline halftoneA halftone image with the background removed to outline the main image.

OverrunProduction of larger quantities than ordered.

OversamplingScanning at more than the ideal sampling rate.

P

Page countTotal number of pages in a book or publication.

Pantone Matching Systems (PMS) The standard color-matching system used by printers and graphic designers.

Perfect BindA binding technique in which pages are collated into a single sheet and then glued together and attached to the cover with an adhesive.

Perfecting pressA printing press that prints both sides of a sheet at the same time.

PerforationProcess of making holes or a series of cuts to make tearing or folding easy.

PicaA printer’s measure of type; One pica is 1/6 of an inch.

PlateA flat sheet of metal on which an image is reproduced using a printing press.

PostScriptA page description language developed by Adobe Systems that tells a printer how an image is to be printed.

Press LayoutSee Ruleup.

Pressure-sensitive paperPaper material with a self sticking adhesive protected by a backing sheet, usually used for labels and stickers.